Liquids on Bed rest

On the way to Utah for James' funeral I started feeling a little 'off'. As the weekend progressed I started getting intense cramping and stabbing my lower abdomen. I called the on-call nurse and was told it was probably just stress and gass.  So I struggled through the weekend with little sleep and lots of pain.  By the time we got home Sunday night I was in agony.  My stomach had swollen (I looked 6 months pregnant) and was so tender I was having a hard time wearing clothing or having anything touch it. 

Monday morning I went to my OB/GYN to have everything checked out (no pregnant woman wants pain this bad in her abdomen).  The baby was fine, I again got to hear the wonderful little heart beat.  It turns out I had a viral infection of my large intestine.  The doctor described it as sores that got food in them, got infected and have now swelled and are painful.  He said they usually prescribe intense pain medication, rest and a liquid diet BUT because I am pregnant and cannot have the pain medication I was put on a liquid diet and bed rest for 'about a week' until it cleared up. 

Bed rest just sounds like a cop out to me.  Why? I am fine.  So feeling stupid just laying around, I would try to get up and get stuff done and be hit again with crippling pain.  So, in the end, I did end up staying down pretty much the entire time. 

The liquid diet was also pretty horrible because you feel like you are starving.  But the worst part was that, on only liquids, I was unable to quench my pregnant belly and morning sickness. With throwing up and the already limited liquid calories, I was dropping weight fast.  So I started drinking chocolate milk, peanut butter on a spoon and any high calorie (even if it was not healthy) food I could get. I felt pretty weak and had low energy (another good reason for bed rest) because all of my good calories were being quickly shuttled to our little one!

After a week I started feeling better so I introduced solid food and again began having the abdominal pains.  So, AGAIN, I went on a liquid diet and bed rest.  After a complete two weeks of this I am know eating solid foods (I am not eating anything really hard to digest yet like tough meats, leafy greens or popcorn).  Every once in a while, if I eat too much, I will get some mild pains but I am hoping this is the end of my stomach virus.  I am excited to begin the 'healthy feel good' portion of my pregnancy!

(The day after I started solid foods I got a raging head cold- sigh- maybe I will start the 'healthy feel good' portion of my pregnancy next week!)

Two of my Favorite Things: Donuts and Grandma Stones

While in Utah for the funeral we also got to see Jeremy and Heidi's family.  As a special treat they got donuts from a specialty shop called, Beyond Glaze.  These were the fanciest donuts I had ever seen or tasted.  They got a whole box (so we could each try and enjoy) of bacon donuts.  At first they look...interesting but they are delicious.  I liked the maple because it tasted like a donut, maple syrup and bacon- best breakfast ever.  

We left to head home on Sunday but we had the chance to stop by and see Grandma Stones and Melanie before leaving.  It was so great to see them and to be in their home; I am sad to say that we do not make it out there is much as we would like.  Grandma has the best laugh, it lights up the room, and Melanie is so funny and caring, she definitely has that wonderful 'Stones Humor.'  It is so great to be there and so great to see them. (Rachel was with us and she sang a hymn for Grandma.  It was wonderful to see Grandma's face light up.)

James Nichols

On August 26, we got the sad news that Ben's cousin, James Nichols, had passed away. It is always so hard to hear that someone you know and care about has died but it is even harder when they are young and have a full life ahead of them.  We immediately started changing plans and getting time of work to go to Utah for the funeral that weekend and to support his family. 

James was married and had four beautiful children (ages 9 to 1).  He co-owned, with his brother's, the family Auto Repair Shops throughout the Provo, UT area.  His family was very close and during our time there shared story after story of his wonderful life and funny personality. 

We are so glad that we were able to make it for the funeral and to hear the stories and share in the celebration of James' wonderful life. 

Ward Camp Out/Service Project/Party- Aug 17-18

Our ward Elder's Quorum plans and hosts an annual Ward Camp Out every year.  This year our Elder's Quorum President moved and left the quorum president-less for about a month.  Ben was called as the new Elder's Quorum President 5 days before the Ward Camp Out was to take place- yikes.  He had many men who had already been working on it and he was able to jump in and help get everything settled- so the camp out went on as planned. (Side Note: We think it is funny that Ben went from Young Men's President to Elder Quorum's President- they are letting him slowly grow up!)

If Ben wouldn't have gotten this calling, we probably wouldn't have gone, but in the spirit of support we both went up to Golden State Park for a fun night of ward camping.  I love camping,  I love the smell of  fire, I love the outdoor wilderness BUT I do not love it very much when I am 17 weeks pregnant, grumpy and sick.  I tried to sleep (we had only brought one pad-oops- so we 'shared' it- I have an amazing husband) and I tried but it was HOPELESS!! After a difficult night we woke up and Ben, with some other Elders, started making everyone breakfast. 

At around 9, a van got there to take all the youth and leaders to a Stake Youth Service Project.  The drive down the mountain in the bus made me so sick I thought I was going to vomit in front of the youth. When we finally made it to the project, a little late, I helped our kids get involved and gave them jobs.  The project was to 'beautify' a walking trail along a river in Erie. The youth pulled dead branches out from the undergrowth, dug holes and buried new trees, had to haul water (far) to all of the newly planted trees and mulch the area.  It was long and hot but 'many hands make light work' so we were able to get it done in no time.  (I am proud of our youth from going from camping to service- it was hard and they did great.)

I got home about 15 minutes after Ben (he stayed and cleaned up the Camp Out) and about 5 minutes later (literally) Dad came to pick us up and take us to Denver for Andrew's Birthday Party! Because we would be swimming, neither of us showered (yes, that is gross), and I am sure we looked like the walking dead when we arrived.  It was fun to be with family and talk and catch up. (I tried swimming but it was a cooler day and I could not stay warm. The kids spend most of the time in the hot tub.)  

That night we were ALL exhausted.  On the way home we told ran into traffic and ended up sitting on the highway for over 45 minutes.  I felt horrible for Dad, who drove, because Ben and I could not stay awake and were no help in entertaining him during the delay.  In the end we arrived home safely.  We had a jam packed but good weekend and we had a good long (until our early morning church meeting) night's rest!

Don't go to the Dentist!

Ben has really good teeth; he doesn't regularly go to the dentist but he is always plaque and cavity free.  I do not have good teeth and they have got embarrassingly worse since being pregnant. Last April I made an appointment for us to go to the dentist and get our annual check-up/clean; the appointment was set for the early morning of August 2!

It was a beautiful Thursday, Ben had taken the morning of work, and together we drove to Longmont towards the dentist.  We were stopped at a light and in deep conversation when two cars collided in the intersection in front of us. I had never seen a car accident before and it was like the world went in slow motion and in hyper speed at the same time.  One of the car's spun and hit us.  As it was spinning towards us Ben had time to scream, "Oh no!" and reach over to grab my arm and I had time to clench every muscle in my body and put my feet (which we already up) and arms against the dash to brace the impact.  (Looking back at it, we have decided it is good, and a little worrisome, that our airbags did not go off because it would have broken my legs and arms. Ben has since forbid me of putting my legs on the dash.)

As if a switch were flipped the moment the car stopped moving everything came back to a real speed and we were called to action.  I grabbed my phone and immediately called 9-1-1 as I jumped out of the car and ran to the nearest car to see if he was hurt.  He was 'ok' so I went to the other car, giving a description on the phone to the responder, and found that the woman in the other car was hurt but not badly.  Ben came over and helped me get her out and sit on the curb.  He then checked her out and sat with her, while I called her husband and informed him of the accident.  

The ambulance and police quickly arrived and the 'clean-up' began.  The woman was going straight and sped up to make it through a yellow light.  She was getting gas for a big vacation they were leaving for that afternoon.  The man (in the car that hit us) also sped up to make the yellow but he turned left (as we all should know, the left turner always get's the ticket).  

She broke one arm and a wrist from the airbags. She also had some cuts but they were not major.  She was taken away by the ambulance and her husband, who had arrived shortly after the police, stayed behind for insurance and stuff.  The other man in the accident did not go to the hospital but stood shaken and upset on the side of the road (we did learn later that he left the scene and went straight to the hospital to deal with some whip-lash and airbag burns).  

Ben and I were fine.  As we sat, waiting for the police to get to us and our statement, and the adrenaline left us we started to feel the impact a little; headaches, sore backs, ect. It took almost two hours before we were able to leave (clean up, pictures, statements, insurance) and fortunately our car was not badly 'injured' so we were able to drive home.

On the way home I called my Obstetrician (baby doctor) just to see if I needed to go in and they were very adamant that I go in and as soon as possible. So I dropped Ben off at work (he was so shaken that it took him a couple hours to get in the 'work' mindset) and went to the doctor.  They pushed me in with the first available doctor and I got a full physical.  The baby was fine and the little heart rate was normal. I was fine but I did have a seat belt bruise forming on my hips and across my belly.  I left the doctor and went to the chiropractor, where my neck and lower back were 'put at ease.'  That night we were both a little sore but we were both fine!

So we have been waiting for insurance claims to figure out what to do with our car. Our dear Avalon was the member of our family that was injured most, although it is all body damage.  The front bumper is cracked and all the 'frame' in the front was bent slightly to the left (so the door squeaks, the hood doesn't fit as tight and the light is crooked) but we are glad that nothing major happened. 

I took this with my phone after the accident.  You can't see the 3rd car.

So what did we learn from this experience?.... Don't go to the dentist!